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Prisons (Drug Testing)
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to the methods used for the mandatory drug testing of women prisoners. [22663]
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Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 27 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question regarding the methods used for the mandatory drug testing of women.
The introduction of mandatory drug testing into women's prisons followed a thorough consideration of the issues involved. Mandatory drug testing procedures are subject to constant review and refinement. There are no immediate plans to alter the methods used for the mandatory drug testing of women.
Director General of the Prison Service
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to date to fill the vacant position of the Director General of the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement. [21086]
Mr. Howard: I am considering the matter carefully and will make an announcement as soon as possible.
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Reconviction Rates
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest reconviction rates two years and four years after release for (a) adults, (b) 15 to 17-year-olds and (c) 18 to 21-year-olds, breaking down the figures by gender. [22462]
Miss Widdecombe: The most recent available information is as follows:
| Age at sentence | Males | Females | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 15-17 | 82 | (6)56 | 81 |
| Aged 18-20(7) | 68 | 49 | 68 |
| Aged 18-21 | 65 | 48 | 65 |
| All young offenders | 72 | 51 | 71 |
| Adults | 45 | 36 | 45 |
| Total | 52 | 38 | 51 |
(5) Relates to convictions for "standard list" offences only. These offences include all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. Rates are based on a sample of prisoners.
(6) This figure is based on only 59 discharges.
(7) Figures are supplied for those aged 18 to 20 in addition to those aged 18 to 21 as prisoners aged 21 at sentence are included among adults.
| Age at sentence | Males | Females | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 15-17 | 87 | 66 | 87 |
| Aged 18-20(9) | 75 | 59 | 74 |
| Aged 18-21 | 73 | 57 | 73 |
| All young offenders | 79 | 61 | 78 |
| Adults | 58 | 43 | 57 |
| Total | 65 | 47 | 64 |
(8) Relates to convictions for "standard list" offences only. These offences include all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. Rates are based on a samples of prisoners.
(9) Figures are supplied for those aged 18 to 20 in addition to those aged 18 to 21 as prisoners aged 21 at sentence are included among adults.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Industrial Death and Redevelopment Scheme
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade who was the last guarantor for the industrial death and redevelopment scheme. [22997]
Mr. Page: This is a matter for the British Coal Corporation, which remains liable to meet all entitlements under the industrial death and retirement scheme.
Marathon Oil Well (Douglas Head)
Dr. Godman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the decision by Marathon Oil plc to drill an exploration well 5.6 miles east-south-east from Douglas head. [22455]
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Mr. Page: The proposed drilling activity will take place in block 112/29 which falls within the Isle of Man territorial waters and is therefore a matter for the Isle of Man Government.
Seismic Tests (Solway Firth)
Dr. Godman: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the decision by Esso plc to carry out exploratory seismic operations in the Solway firth; and if he will make a statement. [22454]
Mr. Page: Esso Exploration and Production UK Ltd. is the licensee of blocks 112/10, 112/14, 112/15 and 113/11 in the north Irish sea, which are located to the west of the Solway firth bay closing line. The licensed area of these blocks does not extend into the Solway firth.
These blocks were awarded in the 14th round of offshore oil and gas licensing and are subject to strict conditions--which were agreed with other Government Departments and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee--to take account of the concerns of other users of the sea and protect any environmental sensitivities which have been identified in the area. I have placed a copy of the 14th round indicative licence conditions in the Library of the House.
The company has already completed seismic operations in the area, and is close to concluding an extensive and wide-ranging consultation exercise regarding its plans to drill. Those consulted include Government Departments, the JNCC, the fishing industry and local authorities.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many scientists and researchers were employed at the Institute of Animal Health in Edinburgh in each year since 1990 up to the current date. [22951]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The number of people in terms of full-time equivalents employed at the neuropathogenesis unit in the science grades for the respective years since 1990 is:
| Year | Number of science employees |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 25 |
| 1991 | 30 |
| 1992 | 40 |
| 1993 | 41 |
| 1994 | 36.5 |
| 1995 | 26 |
| 1996 | 33 |
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those of his Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies which (a) the Government are required to consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) the Government are required to publish their response to advice supplied by them. [21865]
Mr. John M. Taylor [holding answer 21 March 1996]: My Department is not required to consult its advisory non-departmental public bodies prior to
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legislative proposals, although it does so whenever appropriate. Nor is it required to publish its response to advice supplied by advisory non-departmental public bodies.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Benefits Agency Offices (Wales)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency offices there have been in Wales in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [22375]
Mr. Roger Evans: The Benefits Agency was established in 1991 and the information requested from that date is set out in the table:
| Main processing offices | Public caller outlets | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 37 | 38 |
| 1992 | 37 | 38 |
| 1993 | 37 | 38 |
| 1994 | 36 | 39 |
| 1995 | 35 | 40 |
| 1996 | 34 | 41 |
National Insurance (Actors)
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has (i) to take actors out of class 1 national insurance and (ii) to consult them before implementing such plans; and if he will make a statement. [22697]
Mr. Heald: We have been considering for some time the implications of treating actors as self-employed for national insurance purposes as the majority are now for tax purposes and we have already consulted widely on the matter. We have written to the British Actors' Equity Association and other performers' representatives to invite them to further discussions.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Somalia
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) food stocks in Somalia, (b) the number of people suffering malnutrition in Somalia and (c) the possibility of famine in Somalia in the coming months. [23078]
Mr. Hanley: The food supply situation in Somalia has been affected by insecurity, erratic rains and pest infestation. The World Food Programme estimates a 1996 food shortfall of about 150,000 tonnes. The WFP plans to distribute 2,500 tonnes per month to meet immediate needs. To date, it has pledges of 39,000 tonnes.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the internal conflict in Somalia and (b) the capacity
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for reconciliation; and what measures are being taken, or are planned, by (i) Her Majesty's Government and (ii) the EU to assist such reconciliation. [23079]
Mr. Hanley: We remain concerned at the instability in Somalia caused by factional fighting. A return to peace can be achieved only by agreement among the Somalis themselves. We are supporting efforts by the EU and UN to encourage national reconciliation.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made, and what discussions have taken place, between Her Majesty's Government and British and non-British non-governmental organisations of the possibility of making food aid available in Somalia; and what assessment he has made of the security of that food aid and of the people involved in distributing it. [23080]
Mr. Hanley: My noble friend Baroness Chalker and officials are in regular contact with international NGOs about food aid needs throughout the Horn of Africa. We have no outstanding requests for food aid for Somalia. We remain ready to consider further assistance if needs increase. In doing so, we would take into consideration the provision of adequate security for the food aid and those distributing it.
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